Topics

31

General Two Stroke Talk / Weekend at a local track the tide is turning

« on: September 05, 2010, 06:40:59 AM »

I went to a local track / riding area this past weekend.  What I saw shocked me...  The ratio of smoker to thumpers was 85% (or better) to 15% thumpers.  On the track there was a new stock YZ125 just ripping everyone.  The only rider able to even come close was trying his hardest, but the 450 just couldn't hang with the 125...  This is a case of the rider just knowing how to wring out the little bike.  As I looked around, I saw a box truck FCR suspension with two smokers getting ready for the track.  On the trails, it was 90% smokers.  Everywhere I looked smokers.  The tide has turned...  I think those that went to the dark side are coming back...

It was a great day...  premix in the air, great weather, good company, and we were able to ride for 6 hours.   It was a day where we rode all day; nothing broke, (on the bike and on me).  I was able to act like I was 15 for an afternoon.  Now I just need to get over the sore muscles and get ready to do it again. 

32

General Two Stroke Talk / The tide is turning smokers are making a come back

« on: August 13, 2010, 06:04:12 AM »

I was getting for a ride this weekend, and noticed my throttle cable had spot where the sheathing had worn thin.  Not wanting to risk a stuck throttle, I stopped at the local bike shop for a new one.  When the parts attendant asked what kind of bike, I answered I'm old school, I prefer smokers, I have a 2000 KTM 3000.  The two other parts attendants and a salesman asked me if I wanted to trade it in on a new 450...  to which I replied yea, when HELL freezes over...  The salesman laughed because he has a list of customers a mile long looking for smokers.  Most have 4 strokes that have issues, and the rest want to come back to the smoking section.  The salesman stated that if I traded my bike in, they wouldn't even bother to bring it in the shop, that it would be sold before I even unloaded it off my trailer.  He even went to far to say that the buyer would probably be waiting for me at the shop to show with the bike.

What really made me laugh was the "younger" parts attendant's.  When I mentioned I was old school and preferred 2 strokes, they both perked up and said yep, that's what I'm talking about...  both have switched and said they couldn't be happier with their choice.  Riding is fun again.

So I guess we're seeing the re-birth of the smoker.  More and more of the "younger" crowd are moving over to two strokes.  In today's work there's room for both 2 and 4 stroke machines, but I prefer to smoke em if ya got em...

33

General Two Stroke Talk / Local races

« on: May 17, 2010, 01:01:10 PM »

34

General Two Stroke Talk / Factory KTM bike shootout stroker vs. smoker

« on: January 01, 2010, 08:31:41 AM »

Not MX, but an interesting read non the less... 

http://www.dirtrider.com/reviews/dirt_bike/141_0910_mike_lafferty_ktm_400_xcr_w_vs_russell_bobbitt_250_xc_comparison/index.html

I like how they make the stroker more smoker like with the clutch slipper to eliminate engine braking.